Suspension device for lamps



(-No Model.)

4 D. OARNEY.

SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR LAMPS No. 414,940 Patented Nov. 12, 1889.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL CARNEY, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT.

SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR LAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 414,940, dated November 12, 1889.

Application filed July 15, 1889.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL CARNEY, of Meriden, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Suspension Devices for Lamps, 850.; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in c Figure 1, a side View of the suspension device complete; Fig. 2, a front view of the same; Fig. 3, a detached view illustrating the operation of the cam upon the dog J; Fig. 4, the dog L, as engaged with its shoulder f of the cam; Fig. 5, a modification.

This invention relates to an improvement in the device by which lamps, chandeliers, &c., may be suspended from the ceiling and adjusted so as to rest at different elevations. Such suspending devices, generally speaking, consist of a'spring-drum supported in aframe hung to the ceiling, with a cord or chain wound upon the spring-drum under the reaction of the spring, and to which cord the lamp is attached, and so that by drawing the lamp downward the drum will be rotated to wind the spring, and so that the reaction of the spring will aid in raising the lamp.

As the weight of the lamp or chandelier is from rising under the power of the spring overbalancing the Weight of the lamp, or to.

prevent the descent of the lamp should that overbalanoe the spring. In the more general arrangement the spring is made with its initial power sufficiently great to support the lamp in its most elevated position. Then as the lamp descendsthe spring is wound, its power increasing accordingly, so that its tendency is to lift the lamp. Hence the locking device is applied to prevent the accidental or unintended ascent of the lamp; but in such case it is desirable that a locking device shall be applied, so that should the spring break, or in any way becomeinoperative, a locking Serial o. 317,555. (No model.)

hereinafter described, and particularly re;

cited in the claims. 7 A represents the frame, provided with a suitable loop or eye B, by which it may be hung. On an axis 0, supported in the frame, the spring-drum D is arranged in the usual manner for spring-drums in this class of devices. The spring (not shown) is secured by one end to the axis, which is stationary, and the. other end to the drum, so that turning the drum in one direction will wind the spring. Then the reaction of the spring will serve to rotate the drum in the opposite direction.

To the drum a suitable cord or chain E is attached and wound thereon, extending downward. The lamp or thing to be suspended is attached to its lower end, and so that by pulling the said thing downward the drum will be rotated in one direction, so as to wind the spring. Thenthe reaction of the spring will operate to turn the drum in the opposite direction and Wind the cord thereon, as usual in this class of devices. Fixed to or made as a part of the drum is a gear-wheel F, and in the frame apinion G is arranged upon an axle H and so that said gear-wheel F will en the plane of the said cam and so that the nose I) of the dog may normally engage the said shoulder a, as represented in Fig. 2. The dog is preferably weighted, as at L, the tendency of the weight being to hold the nose of the dog downupon the cam I and into engagement with the shoulder a. The position of the shoulder a of the cam and the dog,-as seen in Fig. 1, is in opposition to the reactive force of the spring, and so as to prevent such reaction of the spring to rewind the cord thereon, but will permit the cam to escape from the dog when moving in the opposite direction. (Indicated by the arrow, Fig. 2, which arrow indicates the direction in which the drum is rotated in drawing the cord therefrom.) On the cam back of the shoulder a is a radial projection (Z of greater extent than the depth of the shoulder a. This projection (Z is adapted to strike upon the under side of the dog as the pinion rotates, and so that the pinion being rotated by the drawing down of the cord, so as to wind the spring, will throw the dog upward, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 2.

As represented in Fig. 2, the dog J stands engaged with the shoulder a of the cam I, and so as to prevent the reaction of the spring in the drum; but if such reaction be required the cord or chain is drawn downward, so as to turn the cam to the position indicated in broken lines, Fig. 2, which will cause the projection d of the cam to throw the dog out.

of reach of the shoulder a. Then the power which produced such rotation of the cam being released, the spring reacts and imparts a quick revolution to the cam, so that the shoulder CL will pass beyond the reach of the nose of the dog before the dog can fall into engagement with the shoulder. Consequently the cam will continue rotation so long as the velocity of rotation of the cam is so rapid that after the dog has been thrown outward by the projection (Z of the cam, as represented in Fig. 3, the descent of the dog cannot be made until after the shoulder a shall have passed beyond engagement with the nose of the dog, and as represented in broken lines, Fig. 3. At each of the rapid rotations of the cam I the projection cl will throw the dog out of possible engagement wit-h the shoulder a; but if the rotation of the cam be retarded, as by holding upon the cord or chain, so that the movement of the cam be slow, then the dog may drop into engagement with the shoulder a, as seen in Fig. 2,before that shoulder shall have passed out of reach of the nose of the dog. To provide a stop in the opposite direction, so that the descent may be prevented except that descent be quickly made, a like dog L is hung, preferably, upon the same axis K as the dog J, and in like manner weighted, as at M, the nose 6 of the dog adapted to rest on the periphery of the cam, and at a point distant from the shoulder a an oppositely-directed shoulder f is formed, which may engage the nose of the dog L when brought into contact therewith, and on the cam adjacent to the shoulder f is a projection g, of greater extent than the shoulder f, and, like the shoulder (Z, operates upon the dog L, to prevent its engagement with the shoulder f under rapid rotation of the cam; but if the rotation of the cam be slow then the shoulder f will engage the dog, as seen in Fig. 4, and thus prevent the rotation of the drum in the opposite direction from that which is controlled by the dog J. In cases where the stop is required in but one direction a single dog only maybe employed, as seen in Fig. 5, that figure representing the dog L as omitted, and in that figure there are represented two shoulders a with corresponding projections (Z at opposite points, so as to make two points of engagement between the cam and the dog. There may be more of such points of engagement between the dog and the cam, if desired. By this construction the spring-drum is normally held against rotation in one direction, and from which it is released by turning the drum in the direction opposite to that by which such engagement is made, and so that the projection of the cam will throw the dog out of reach of its shoulder on the cam, and then a quick rotation of the cam permitted, so that the shoulder on the cam will pass out of reach of the nose of the dog before the dog can return into the path of the said shoulder.

The construction is simple and applicable to suspension devices for many purposes for which such devices are adapted; but it is peculiarly adapted for lamps and chandeliers,

because of its simplicity of construction, antoinatic action, and that it is not liable to deran gement.

To prevent the impulse given to the pawl by cam projections throwing the pawl over to the reverse side, a stop, as 5, may be provided on the frame projecting into the path of the pawl, so as to prevent the possibility of its being thrown out of return to its proper position.

I claim- 1. In a suspension device, the combination of a frame, a stationary axle therein, a springdrum on said axle, provided with a cord or chain around said drum, a gear-wheel attached to said drum and so as to rey olve therewith, a pinion supported upon an axle in the tent than the depth of said shoulder, with a dog hung to the frame to swing in a plane with said cam and adapted to engage said shoulder, but in the path of said projection, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination of a frame, a stationary axle therein, a spring-drun1 arranged upon said axle, carrying a cord or chain, a gearwheel attached to and so as to revolve with said drum, a pinion hung upon an axle in the frame and arranged to engage with said gearwheel so as to receive rotation therefrom, and acam I in connection with said pinion and so as to revolve therewith, the said cam constructed with shoulders a fin its periphery,

the said shoulders being oppositely directed, f, and standing in the path of the respective and the cam also constructed with projections projections 01 'g, substantially as and for the 10 cl 9 in its periphery respectively adjacent to purpose described.

said shoulders a f, but projecting to a greater T T extent than the depth of said shoulders, with DAL IEL K two oppositely-directed dogs J L, the one Witnesses:

adapted to engage the said shoulder a and V STEPHEN OSBORNE,

the other adapted to engage the said shoulder WILLIAM HAY. 

